First Moab Wheeling Trip at the end of June 2025

[Shibbyjeep]

Welp I have decided to join a local offroad shop in their annual voyage out to Moab next month. Still working through my plans, weather or not we are going to camp or airbnb or what(the offroad shop has thier own air bnb booked). So currently I am open to suggestions for places to ground camp or lodging suggestions in general. I have been to Moab once, but it was with my wife and we flew out to Salt Lake City and drove into Moab in a rental and did Arches National Park but no wheeling. Below is the list of trails the group is planning to hit while we are out there. I have a buddy who has been a few times and suggested I work in a ride out at Ouray while we are out west. Open to any and all experienced Moab goers for suggestions.

Sponsored

 

[EricStanley]

How built is your rig? Pritchett and Steel Bender are brutal. Still my favorite is Onion Creek. It's boring and easy and absolutely beautiful. La Sal Pass is amazing... dang near peed my pants on the Talus Section.

 

[Shibbyjeep]

How built is your rig? Pritchett and Steel Bender are brutal. Still my favorite is Onion Creek. It's boring and easy and absolutely beautiful. La Sal Pass is amazing... dang near peed my pants on the Talus Section.

2" lift, 37's, regearing to 5.13's. Likely adding some skid protection before heading out. Link to my build in my sig.

 

[Sweetums]

Pritchett and Steel Bender?

We took on Steel Bender in a double-locked LJ with longarms and 35"s - and it wasn't enough. No way I would take the JT on that trail with the long wheelbase and poor departure angle. Pritchett is legendarily hard, and Kane Creek nearly killed me. There's also a fresh rock fall on Kane Creek this season that's tricky to get past even with a short wheelbase.

You're going to drag the tail a lot, even on Fins n Things, so I strongly recommend a hitch slider.

To do everything on that list I hope you are lifted at least 3.5", 37" tires (39" preferred), winch, have full skids, sliders, double lockers, and a disregard for panel damage.

 

[Shibbyjeep]

Pritchett and Steel Bender?

We took on Steel Bender in a double-locked LJ with longarms and 35"s - and it wasn't enough. No way I would take the JT on that trail with the long wheelbase and poor departure angle. Pritchett is legendarily hard, and Kane Creek nearly killed me. There's also a fresh rock fall on Kane Creek this season that's tricky to get past even with a short wheelbase.

You're going to drag the tail a lot, even on Fins n Things, so I strongly recommend a hitch slider.

To do everything on that list I hope you are lifted at least 3.5", 37" tires (39" preferred), winch, have full skids, sliders, double lockers, and a disregard for panel damage.

Ive got hitch slider. Adding skids, rubi so double locked, ive got sliders, chippee fenders, and a winch. And all trails aren't required, those are just the ones they plan to do. Ill prob hit Ouray one day so possibly while they are there.

 

[professorkx]

Pritchett and Steel Bender?

We took on Steel Bender in a double-locked LJ with longarms and 35"s - and it wasn't enough. No way I would take the JT on that trail with the long wheelbase and poor departure angle. Pritchett is legendarily hard, and Kane Creek nearly killed me. There's also a fresh rock fall on Kane Creek this season that's tricky to get past even with a short wheelbase.

You're going to drag the tail a lot, even on Fins n Things, so I strongly recommend a hitch slider.

To do everything on that list I hope you are lifted at least 3.5", 37" tires (39" preferred), winch, have full skids, sliders, double lockers, and a disregard for panel damage.

Agree with this. I’ve been to Moab a lot in a number of different Jeeps, and youI would expect to do damage to your Gladiator on Pritchett. Steel Bender is a question mark, depends upon how good a driver your are, your confidence in line selection and your willingness to stack rocks. I’ve wheeled for 4 decades, and my wife is a great spotter, but I won’t be taking my Gladiator on Steel Bender over the winter.

I’m surprised the trip is in June, as it’s going to be HOT. We go before Easter Jeep or in the fall around November. Because of the heat, I would opt for a room with AC.

All the other trails on your list will be fun, but I have heard that Hamburger Hill on Kane Creek is destroyed, so might want to be a challenge in your Gladiator.

Golden Spike starts on Poison Spider, but diverts before completing Poison Spider. Golden Spike is a long day. I did this with one other Jeep last year, and even with keeping a smooth pace, it was still a 10 hour day.

Make sure you have skids for at least your motor and trans, and I would move your spare tire to the bed if it’s normally under the back of the rig. Gas tank skid is personal preference (IMHO)…you will bend it up if you just run the stock skid. I ran the stock gas tank skid on my JK for a decade, and the only real damage was done on the Rubicon.

 

[Sweetums]

Rather than retype...

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/moab-in-july.82021/post-1335719

 

[Shibbyjeep]

Rather than retype...

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/moab-in-july.82021/post-1335719

Great advice.

 

[pcrawfordpt]

I’ve done all these except Pritchett and Metal Masher. Steel Bender to the Dragon’s Tail and back out. No way I was going down that fall. Luckily we were with some short wheel based jeeps and they couldn’t go down it anyway. Risk>reward. Did not do Kane Creek this year, so I don’t know how the rock fall will affect a Gladiator? I’m lifted 3.5” on 37’s and well protected. You will do fine on all the others, just pick good lines. It’s gonna be HOT so camping, assuming a camper, will require hookups for your AC. If not get a hotel or AirBnB…should be cheap that time of year. Do some sightseeing while you’re out there…it’s beautiful.

edit: a front facing camera is super helpful in Moab. If you don’t have a factory camera and have a Tazer you can get their camera.

 

[Shibbyjeep]

I’ve done all these except Pritchett and Metal Masher. Steel Bender to the Dragon’s Tail and back out. No way I was going down that fall. Luckily we were with some short wheel based jeeps and they couldn’t go down it anyway. Risk>reward. Did not do Kane Creek this year, so I don’t know how the rock fall will affect a Gladiator? I’m lifted 3.5” on 37’s and well protected. You will do fine on all the others, just pick good lines. It’s gonna be HOT so camping, assuming a camper, will require hookups for your AC. If not get a hotel or AirBnB…should be cheap that time of year. Do some sightseeing while you’re out there…it’s beautiful.

edit: a front facing camera is super helpful in Moab. If you don’t have a factory camera and have a Tazer you can get their camera.

My Z automotive front cam will be here tomorrow. I contacted them about if it would fit on a 24+ grille and they said no but they would ship me an adaptor to allow it to fit and its on the way as well, for free! I have a 24+ grille that will be here in a week or two so Trailcam will be on during the trip.

 

[pcrawfordpt]

My Z automotive front cam will be here tomorrow. I contacted them about if it would fit on a 24+ grille and they said no but they would ship me an adaptor to allow it to fit and its on the way as well, for free! I have a 24+ grille that will be here in a week or two so Trailcam will be on during the trip.

The video quality isn’t great, and don’t expect to use it to pick your lines, but it lets you know what’s on the other side as you crest over everything.

 

[Shibbyjeep]

The video quality isn’t great, and don’t expect to use it to pick your lines, but it lets you know what’s on the other side as you crest over everything.

Yeah thats what I figured.

 

[WILDHOBO]

I agree with most everything others have said. I’ve done everything on that list except for Kane creek, and a bunch that aren’t on the list. You’ll have no problem with steel bender if you skip obstacles that are too much. It’s a beautiful trail, but you might skip the tail. I did the first time. Metal masher is as easy or hard as you want it to be. The same is true for poison spider and top of the world. Pritchett however. That’s a thing. With a 4” lift in front and 6+ in the rear, on 37’s and fully skidded everywhere, I winched three times. And I consider myself to have done exceptionally well. The other gladiator with us was on 40’s. Some things were easier on 40’s, but not everything. We had no body damage, but it’s possible on nearly all big obstacles. I wouldn’t touch that trail with less than 4” on 37’s. But that’s me. The other side of that is I’ll give you credit if you do it. You’ll have fun and will not die. It’s hard, but not particularly dangerous. Could you dent somethin? Sure. But you’re not dying on that trail. Have an absolute blast. As for lodging, I love camping, but not in Moab summers. Plenty of inexpensive hotels.

 

[Sweetums]

On Steel Bender there is no way to bypass The Dragon's Tail that I know of. This is a very sketchy steep drop with a sharp left at the bottom. Get it wrong and you don't just flop, you likely roll several times down a steep, rocky slope.
You will not have a controlled descent; at some point gravity will overcome your traction and you will slide with all four wheels locked up until your front reaches the bottom. Photos and video do not do this obstacle justice and don't be fooled by the "B-line" - that route is even more sketchy and risks a rollover to the side. Your best and safest bet is to go straight over and get used to standing on the firewall.

Even a lifted short-wheelbase Jeep will hit the belly and scratch the tail. When we did this in the LJR we had a very built Gladiator on 42"s lower us down with a strap so we didn't somersault.

 

[pcrawfordpt]

Agr

On Steel Bender there is no way to bypass The Dragon's Tail that I know of. This is a very sketchy steep drop with a sharp left at the bottom. Get it wrong and you don't just flop, you likely roll several times down a steep, rocky slope.
You will not have a controlled descent; at some point gravity will overcome your traction and you will slide with all four wheels locked up until your front reaches the bottom. Photos and video do not do this obstacle justice and don't be fooled by the "B-line" - that route is even more sketchy and risks a rollover to the side. Your best and safest bet is to go straight over and get used to standing on the firewall.

Even a lifted short-wheelbase Jeep will hit the belly and scratch the tail. When we did this in the LJR we had a very built Gladiator on 42"s lower us down with a strap so we didn't somersault.

Agreed…we were there last week and it was a definite nope. The risk is not worth the reward. It’s a great trail out to Dragons Tail. Then just turn around and do another trail. What we did…

Sponsored